Why do they ask if you've been driving your car when you go to get your Texas Vehicle Registration renewed?

Question

Both mine and my husband's registration lapsed and he went to the tax office to renew them yesterday. They asked if we had been driving the cars. He said, yes, and they gave him the sticker. My mother said you are always supposed to say no. Why do they even ask the question?

Answer 1

I don't know their actual reason for it, but this has been my experience.

Few years back, they used to ask that question, you'd answer "no", they'd make you sign an affidavit to that effect, or else they charged a late fee.

Then they started asking if you got a ticket.  I guess having a ticket was the only way they could prove that you *had* driven the car.  No affidavit.

Wonder, if different offices do it different?

Answer 2

To make sure you hadn't gotten a ticket in your car since the registration was out of date.